ABOUT RODNEY
Auckland’s northernmost local board, Rodney includes Kawau Island and Kumeu/Huapai, Helensville, Warkworth, Matakana and Wellsford. In 2021 Rodney’s GDP was $2,543M, up 0.6% from the previous year, compared with the national growth figure of -1.2%. The biggest contributors to Rodney’s economic growth over the last decade have been construction; health care and social assistance; and professional, scientific and technical services. Dairying, horticulture, winemaking, tourism and forestry are key parts of the rural economy. In 2022 Rodney had a population of 79,400, up 2.7% from 2021.
Warkworth
Located at the head of the Mahurangi River, Warkworth is the hub of the Matakana Coast, with a rich history dating back to 1856. The town’s original industry included a timber mill, a jam factory and the Wilson Cement Works. Warkworth boasts a number of historic buildings that can be viewed along the local heritage trail, and the Warkworth Museum includes World War 2 US Army huts, the original Warkworth jail and the model school house, hospital rooms and shops.
Auckland Council (Auckland Plan 2050) expects significant residential and employment growth in Warkworth over the next 30 years, with around 1100 hectares earmarked as future residential and business land. This could accommodate approximately 7500 additional dwellings, or an additional 20,000 people.
Wellsford
Wellsford is located at the junction of State Highways 1 and 16, almost halfway between Auckland and Whangarei. It is the rural service town for the local areas of Tauhoa, Tapora, Wharehine, Port Albert, Te Hana, Tomarata, Te Arai, Whangaripo and Pakiri.
The Albertland and Districts Museum offers a fascinating look at Wellsford’s history and details the life and times of the Albertlanders, who migrated from England in the 1860s in search of a new life to settle the area. Wellsford holds a market day on the first Saturday of every month, at the OWL Community Hub. There’s a great selection of walking trails in the Dome Valley just 10 minutes south of Wellsford. The Kaipara Harbour is 10 minutes west of the town and the surf beaches of Mangawhai Heads, Pakiri, Langs Beach and Waipu Cove are nearby to the east.
Matakana
Matakana was founded in the 1840s by settlers drawn to the area’s natural reserves of timber and clay and perfect climate for growing fruit. Matakana has now become a community known for its arts, crafts, and artisanal produce, not to mention its award-winning wineries. Wine has been produced in Matakana since the mid-1950s and there are now more than 65 hectares planted and over 20 commercial grape growing/winery operations within the Matakana region.
The famous Matakana Village and Farmers’ Market featuring locally grown food and produce draws in visitors and locals alike each Saturday. The village square is also home to a selection of independent boutiques, offering local artisan goods. Matakana Country Park offers a range of family-friendly activities including animal experiences, miniature ride-on train, adventure playground and horse and carriage rides. Another notable attraction is Sculptureum, which offers galleries, gardens and dining. Nearby is the magnificent Tawharanui Regional Park, with miles of white sandy beaches and native forest trails.
Stonewood Homes Rodney
Stonewood Homes Rodney, owner operators, Liz and John Mole successfully combine their 23 years’ experience in the property industry with their team of mostly locals, along with first-hand knowledge of what it takes to ensure their clients have a stress-free building journey.
“We want to build the home around you and how you live your life, and we don’t want to give you any hidden surprises along the way (except the good ones), we are open books and a lot of our business are repeat clients or referrals, this says it all to us and quite simply that’s the biggest compliment we can get” says Liz.
“People can come in and sit down with us and using our software we can create their dream home with many changes able to be made in front of their eyes in real time,” explains Liz. “This means they can see changes made, not just in a plan view, but in a full interactive 3D render of their customised home. It totally transparent and quickly allows them to understand how changes will impact the price to ensure concept designs remain within their budget as they try out design features for their home. It’s a real hands-on experience and the client is really closely involved. It makes it an exciting process for our clients. There is no one size fits all home, so this interactive system allows people to design a home that perfectly suits their needs.”
Liz, also a licensed real estate agent, and John, former professional tennis coach, moved from the UK to NZ, over 20 years ago, they have three children and are passionate about the local community, regularly being involved in supporting local events and frequenting the local beaches, cafes and restaurants this fabulous area has to offer.
“Why not live where you holiday? It makes sense to build a new home to be energy efficient, built for today’s climate and cheaper to run, plus you can design it your way. By the time your home is built, likely you will already have built up equity in it too” says John.
Their son, Joe, is studying surveying at Otago and their daughter, Emily a Business & marketing degree, and 8 year old, Jamie is their biggest fan and critic, all will be a valuable asset to the business in the future.
Pop into their Showroom at 2 Baxter Street, Warkworth and ask to sample the in-built coffee machine, filled with local coffee beans. The team at Stonewood Homes Rodney offer a full list of services for their local clients, including knockdown rebuilds, custom builds and house and land packages.
Stonewood Homes Rodney services the following areas:
Warkworth | Matakana | Wellsford | Snells Beach | Omaha | Leigh | Pakiri | Puhoi | Tirau | Mahurangi | Kawau Island | Te Arai